AN obsessive and intense perfectionist, Mikel Arteta prides himself on his ability to react and be ready for any obstacle that is thrown his way.
But even he will have been caught off guard with the pressure he now finds himself under as Arsenal’s injury rut approaches crisis territory after just three Premier League games.
The Gunners’ record-breaking summer splurge on over £250m worth of talent has given boss Arteta his deepest and most talented squad since taking over in December 2019.
And yet, recent injuries to Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and William Saliba have left his starting XI’s spine battered and bruised heading into an-already crucial month of their title charge.
A hamstring scare could still see winger Saka be out for weeks, a minor knee procedure has sidelined striker Havertz until potentially mid-October, while centre back Saliba’s ankle issue picked up in the first five minutes of their 1-0 defeat at Liverpool before the international break may take a month to resolve.
And that’s without considering Ben White and Christian Norgaard’s niggles that saw them miss the Anfield trip, while Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard were only fit enough for the bench.
Odegaard and Trossard appear to have overcome their problems representing Norway and Belgium respectively, but Arteta faces having FIVE key men unavailable before mid-September.
This is not what the Spaniard anticipated heading into Saturday’s Nottingham Forest clash, followed by tricky trips to Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League and Port Vale in the Carabao Cup and must-win Prem outings against Manchester City and Newcastle.
Come away from this month with wins across the board and Arteta will have brushed aside the growing concerns from fans that a season of such hope may already be faltering.
But more points lost, and more ground to pick up on Arne Slot’s so-far faultless Reds, and the knives will begin to be sharpened.
In seasons gone by, this mounting injury list would have crippled Arsenal beyond doubt.
But following their impressive summer of eight new recruits – including the long-awaited arrival of a world-class striker in Viktor Gyokeres – there really are no more excuses.
Arteta has bemoaned injuries across their previous three campaigns of finishing second, turning to his bench to find a damaging lack of elite game changers.
That is not the case anymore. Rotation now is not just advised, but a necessity.
He will certainly be judged harshly but fairly if his ‘second-string’ XI do not deliver the goods over what will now be a gruelling few weeks.
Cristhian Mosquera is likely to step in to replace Saliba after an imposing display at Anfield, while another new boy in Piero Hincapie provides more defensive cover on the bench.
Noni Madueke also shone on Merseyside, as well as in an England shirt more recently, to fill in for Saka, while the £68m buy from Crystal Palace Eberechi Eze bolsters the attack further.
And Havertz should technically not be missed with Gyokeres leading the line, already with two goals from three Prem games and desperate still to prove his £63.5m price tag
There is strength elsewhere too. Midfielder Mikel Merino banged in four goals in two games for Spain during the break, piling the pressure on Declan Rice’s below-par performances to kick-start this season.
There remain plenty of positives for Arteta to cling to. Alongside the squad depth, their set-piece and defensive strength has carried on from last term, while they came close to nicking a point at Liverpool before Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunner of a free-kick.
But this month will be a true test of Arsenal’s credentials to lift silverware come May.
It has come quicker than anyone had expected, but Arteta is officially under the cosh.
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